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Only certain voters can request an absentee ballot and only a few categories of absentee voters may request a mailed ballot. Voters who are required to be at work while the polling places are open on Election Day or will be out of town, must absentee vote in person. Voters who are 65 or older, have a permanent or temporary physical disability, or are temporarily residing outside their county of residence may absentee vote by mail. Additionally, any person who is the parent, spouse or dependent of a temporarily or permanently physically disabled person who is hospitalized outside of their county of residence (or more than 50 miles away from their residence), and such parent, spouse or dependent will be with such person on election day, may obtain absentee ballots by mail.
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COVID-19 info

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Mississippi, Mississippi State Department of Health

Mississippi absentee ballot deadlines

Request deadlines

  • In Person: No specific deadline. In-person absentee voting for those with a qualifying excuse ends 3 days before Election Day.
  • By Mail: No specific deadline. We recommend requesting your ballot at least 7 days before Election Day.
  • Online: N/A

Ballot deadlines

  • Voted ballots are due: Postmarked by Election Day and received within 5 business days of Election Day (by mail);

Mississippi absentee ballot rules

You may vote by absentee ballot in Mississippi if:

  • You will be away from your county on Election Day for any reason.
  • You are a student, teacher, or administrator at a school whose studies or employment there necessitates your absence from your county on Election Day; or you are the spouse or dependent thereof.
  • You have a temporary or permanent physical disability that renders you unable to vote in person without substantial hardship.
  • You are the parent, spouse, or dependent of a person with a temporary or permanent physical disability who is hospitalized outside of their county of residence or more than fifty (50) miles away, and you (the parent, spouse or dependent) will be with that person on Election Day.
  • You are sixty-five (65) years of age or older.
  • You will be unable to vote in person because you are required to be at work on Election Day during the times at which the polls will be open.
  • You are a member, spouse, or dependent of the congressional delegation absent from Mississippi on Election Day.
  • You are a disabled war veteran (or spouse or dependent of such a person) in a hospital.
  • You are a member (or spouse or dependent of such a person) of the Merchant Marine or American Red Cross.

Mississippi absentee ballot directions

An absentee application should be requested directly from the clerk's office. The application must include a seal and the clerk's initials. Applications returned by mail must be notarized or sworn and subscribed to by another official authorized to witness absentee balloting. Applications of the temporarily or permanently disabled are NOT required to be notarized but must be witnessed and signed by a person 18 years of age or older; the witness does not need to be a voter.

  1. Sign and date the form. This is very important!
  2. Return your completed application to your Local Election Office as soon as possible. We'll provide the mailing address or contact information for you.
  3. All Local Election Offices will accept mailed or hand-delivered forms. If it's close to the deadline, call and see if your Local Election Office will let you fax or email the application.
  4. Double-check the deadlines and be sure to cast your voted ballot on time so that it is counted.
  5. Please contact your Local Election Office if you have any further questions about the exact process.

Once you receive your ballot...

  1. Once you receive the ballot, carefully read and follow the instructions.
  2. Sign and date where indicated.
  3. Mail your voted ballot back to the address indicated on the return envelope.
  4. Double-check the deadlines and be sure to cast your voted ballot on time to be sure it is counted.

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